On the afternoon of October 25, 2024, the College of Fine Arts and Design of the Division of Arts welcomed Gary Clough, a faculty member from the Royal College of Art (RCA) in the UK, for a friendly visit. The aim of this exchange was to foster cooperation and academic exchange between the two institutions, providing faculty and students with valuable international perspectives.

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is one of the world’s most renowned art and design institutions. Unique in that it only enrolls graduate students, RCA consistently ranks as the top art and design school globally according to QS rankings. Located in London, the college offers programs taught by internationally renowned artists, practitioners, and theorists. With state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional research resources, RCA provides an environment that nurtures creativity and intellectual growth, committed to enhancing students’ learning, knowledge, and professional skills, particularly in the field of fine arts.

Gary Clough is a senior educator with over 25 years of experience in higher education, specializing in international and transnational education. He graduated from the University for the Creative Arts and RCA, majoring in Fine Art Sculpture. His work has been exhibited across the UK, Europe, the United States, and China, including exhibitions at Tate St Ives and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. As both a practicing artist and RCA’s Head of International Education Pathways, Gary has extensive hands-on experience in cross-cultural education. He has developed and managed advanced courses for students from non-UK art and design backgrounds, helping them enhance their practical and academic skills.

During this exchange, Gary provided an overview of RCA's recent educational initiatives, highlighting the interdisciplinary collaboration project "AcrossRCA," which facilitates collaboration between RCA and other institutions, such as Imperial College London. The AcrossRCA project brings together students from various disciplines, encouraging collaborative research that crosses the boundaries of art, architecture, communication, and design. Focusing on peer-centered idea exchange, AcrossRCA encourages students to develop innovative and critical thinking skills, exploring the essential role of creative arts in understanding and experiencing the world. In the project, students address pressing contemporary issues, independently identify key questions, and develop the processes and skills necessary to achieve project outcomes.

Xu Hui, Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design, attended the meeting along with Professors Huang Yiran and Yan Jingxian. The faculty introduced the school and department’s overall structure, discussing interdisciplinary development and future directions. Both sides engaged in an in-depth discussion on potential collaboration in areas such as institutional cooperation, faculty exchange, and research projects, laying a solid foundation for future partnerships.

This visit not only strengthened the connection betweentheDivision of Arts SZU and RCA but also offered new perspectives for the school’s internationalization and interdisciplinary cooperation. It established a strong foundation for deeper collaboration in teaching, research, and inter-institutional exchange in the future.

Divisionof Arts

November 5, 2024